How to Get the Build Version Number of an Android Application?

Obtaining the build version number of an Android application is simple. To do so, the user should first launch the app on their Android device or emulator and then navigate to its settings or options menu. Next, they should look for either an "About" or an "Info" section since this is where the build version number usually exists.

Once located, tapping on it will reveal the necessary details including a combination of numbers and/or letters such as "1.2.3" or "v1.0.0". As both developers and users require this information to identify different releases and updates, obtaining the build version number plays a crucial role in managing Android applications effectively.

Build Version

The build version number in Android is a unique identifier that distinguishes different versions of applications or the operating system. This ID helps to track and differentiate updates, ensuring seamless functionality in the Android platform.

Developers rely on the build version number to efficiently manage and communicate crucial software releases. This numbering system enables users to effortlessly recognize and monitor the exact application or Android operating system version installed. Moreover, this approach assists developers with pinpointing and resolving issues reported by users by quickly identifying which specific version is involved.

Approaches

Lets discuss the approaches to find the build number quickly in Android.

• Using PackageManager

• Using BuildConfig

Using PackageManager

The Android PackageManager class conveniently allows getting an application's build version number programmatically. Accessing package information is done using the getPackageManager() method, which enables you to get not only your app details but also those of other installed apps. Another useful method includes calling getPackageInfo() by stating your app's package name to retrieve a PackageInfo object.

The application object comprises essential information, such as the version name and code. The version name denotes a string that is easily understandable by users while the version code represents an integer used for comparing versions programmatically. These values can be utilized for diverse purposes, including showcasing vital information and implementing functionality specific to each version within the app.

Algorithm

• Get the package manager instance.

• The package information can be retrieved by using the getPackageInfo() method. Simply pass in the name of the package along with any necessary flags as parameters.

• Retrieve the version information from the PackageInfo object.

• Obtain the version name using packageInfo.versionName.

• Obtain the version code using packageInfo.versionCode.

• Use the version name and version code for your desired purposes.

Example

import android.content.pm.PackageInfo;
import android.content.pm.PackageManager;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.widget.TextView;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

   @Override
   protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
      super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
      setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

      // Get the package manager instance
      PackageManager packageManager = getPackageManager();

      try {
         // Get the package information
         PackageInfo packageInfo = packageManager.getPackageInfo(getPackageName(), 0);

         // Retrieve the version information
         String versionName = packageInfo.versionName;
         int versionCode = packageInfo.versionCode;

         // Use the version information
         TextView versionNameTextView = findViewById(R.id.versionNameTextView);
         versionNameTextView.setText("Version Name: " + versionName);

         TextView versionCodeTextView = findViewById(R.id.versionCodeTextView);
         versionCodeTextView.setText("Version Code: " + versionCode);

      } catch (PackageManager.NameNotFoundException e) {
         e.printStackTrace();
      }
   }
}

Output

Version Name: 1.2.3
Version Code: 123

Using BuildConfig

The BuildConfig class allows retrieving a program's version information programmatically in an Android application efficiently. This class is automatically generated during the build process and contains several fields to configure and support the program's build version, such as version code and version name.

Through accessing various 'Build Config' fields appropriately, one can retrieve a human-readable string called the version name usually presented to users and a unique integer value named the version code used for programmatic comparisons.

Developers can utilize these values within their applications for a range of purposes, including displaying version information and implementing version specific functionality. The BuildConfig method provides a straightforward and convenient approach to access the build version number in an Android application's code.

Algorithm

• Access the BuildConfig class.

• Retrieve the version name from BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME.

• Retrieve the version code from BuildConfig.VERSION_CODE.

• Use the version name and version code as needed within your application.

Example

import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.widget.TextView;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

   @Override
   protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
      super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
      setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

      // Retrieve the version name from BuildConfig
      String versionName = BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME;

      // Retrieve the version code from BuildConfig
      int versionCode = BuildConfig.VERSION_CODE;

      // Use the version information
      TextView versionNameTextView = findViewById(R.id.versionNameTextView);
      versionNameTextView.setText("Version Name: " + versionName);

      TextView versionCodeTextView = findViewById(R.id.versionCodeTextView);
      versionCodeTextView.setText("Version Code: " + versionCode);
   }
}

Output

Version Name: 1.2.3
Version Code: 123

Conclusion

In this case, one can retrieve the build version number of an Android application through two approaches. The first method involves using the PackageManager class to access package information and retrieve both version name and code, whereas the second approach provides direct access to configuration fields for version-related data through the BuildConfig class. Both methods are effective and programmatically-friendly ways of obtaining vital version information.

Developers can easily display build version numbers and implement version-specific functionality in their Android applications by incorporating these approaches. Additionally, with the knowledge of the application's version, other tasks can be pe-rformed. The developer should choose an appropriate method based on their require-ment and use versions names and version codes accordingly.